Credit Union Journal articles from July 2006

Credit Union Journal archives from July 2006

CUs Join Banks In Fighting Plan To Limit FHLB Dividends.(credit unions)(Federal Home Loan Banks)
July 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The credit union lobby joined the banking trade groups last week in opposition to a proposed rule that could limit dividends paid by the Federal Home Loan Banks, one of the best investments available for credit unions. In a...

Seeing The Light: A Light At Truliant FCU's New Headquarters Glows According To Level Of Member Satisfaction.(federal credit union)
July 3, 2006... WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Members of Truliant FCU and other passers-by of the credit union's new headquarters have seen the light. For the $1-billion credit union the light sits atop a 64-foot high fiberglass tower that glows and dims...

DFCU Asks For Dismissal of Suit: Says Plan To Recall Board Members Over Conversion Attempt Is 'Illegal, Unsafe and Unsound'.(cases on credit union)
July 3, 2006... DETROIT -- DFCU Financial has asked that a lawsuit filed last month against the $1.8 billion CU and two board members be dismissed on the grounds that it lacks any evidence for federal cause of action, according to response papers filed last...

Florida CU Makes 2nd Bid To Convert.(credit unions)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... TALLAHASEE, Fla. -- Sunshine State CU will try a second time to convert to a mutual savings bank, officials with the $180-million credit union announced last week. The credit union applied with the Office of Thrift Supervisions almost two...

On Deadline: Coke Machines To Add New Payment Option.(product introduction of vending machine)
July 3, 2006... PURCHASE, N.Y. -- Thirsty consumers will have a new way to pay for that ice-cold can of Coke, thanks to a cashless solution being introduced by MasterCard at the vending machine. The cards company announced last week it is teaming with the...

Five CUs Make Top 25 List For Best Places To Work.(rankings of credit unions)
July 3, 2006... ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Five credit unions made the top 25 lists for the best small and medium companies to work for in the U.S., an annual ranking put together by the Society for Human Resources Management and the great places To Work Institute....

Bankrupty Expert Bill Mapother Dies.(obituary)(Obituary)
July 3, 2006... LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- William Mapother III, the well-known expert on consumer bankruptcy who taught thousands of credit union staff about related compliance issues, has died from lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis. An attorney with Mapother...

No Plan To Sell Or Convert To Bank, Says State Farm.(Nationwide Insurance acquired with Nationwide Federal Credit Union)
July 3, 2006... BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- While Nationwide Insurance has recently announced plans to buy its employees credit union, Nationwide FCU, and merge it with recently chartered Nationwide Bank, a similar plan is not afoot at another insurance industry...

Ad Points To Bankers' Profits.(banking industry has consistently been the most profitable in the nation)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- CUNA and NAFCU are sponsoring a new ad in several Capitol Hill publications chastising banks for whining about the competition from credit unions as they continue to report record profits. In pointing out the continued banker...

Worth Noting.(CBS News annual meeting and convention)(Massachusetts Credit Union League has unveiled a new logo)(Mary Martha Fortney has been elected vice president of the Women in Housing and Finance Board)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Rather To Keynote In Calif., Nev. LAS VEGAS-A keynote address by veteran CBS News anchor Dan Rather tops the agenda for the California and Nevada CU Leagues' annual meeting and convention, to be held at the Bellagio Hotel here Nov. 8-10....

Thoughts From The Emerald City to The City By The Bay.
July 3, 2006... Random thoughts while making the drive along the Pacific Coast Highway from Seattle to San Francisco last week... First, how is it you can fly 3,000 miles in six hours, but the last 100 yards of the luggage and rental car seems to take...

CU Philosophy As Business Advantage Extolled By Panel.(Credit unions)
July 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Credit unions should promote their cooperative principles as a competitive advantage, according to four people. "Promoting only our credit unions' rates and services is not going to sell us in the long run," observed Mary...

Wegner Nominations Open.(National Credit Union Foundation is seeking nominations for Wegner Memorial Awards)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... MADISON, Wis. -- The National Credit Union Foundation is seeking nominations for the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards. Considered the highest honors in the credit union movement, the Wegner Awards include: * The Individual Achievement Award...

Letters To The Editor: Proponent Of Charter Conversions Is Missing The Point.(Letter to the editor)
July 3, 2006... I forced myself to read Mr. Bob Freedman's article (CU Journal, June 12) several times because each time I found another argument that uses bank values as the basis for his opinion rather than the more appropriate credit union values. For...

Michigan Rolls Out Campaign.(radio campaign)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... LANSING, Mich. -- Residents around this state are on notice: "Anyone Can Join A Michigan Credit Union." That message is the tagline of a new TV and radio campaign being launched next week as part of the Michigan CU Brand Campaign. The...

Schooler Out At USERS.(president)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... VALLEY FORGE, Pa. -- John Schooler has left as president of USERS, the core processor here that is part of the Fiserv family of companies. Well-known to many within credit unions, Schooler was promoted from within USERS to replace former...

Robber A 'Hair' From Escaping.(Credit unions)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... LONGVIEW, Wash. -- A suspect fleeing a robbery at Weyerhaeuser CU was caught a short while later after one witness recognized him as his barber. The witness, a credit union member, was standing in the parking lot with his two sons when he saw...

Advice On Mergers From Some Folks Who Know.
July 3, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- The credit union now known as Westerra CU has mergers down to a science, and it has some advice on getting through the process as quickly and painlessly to members and employees as possible. Denver-based Westerra merged with...

What Can Be Done About 90% Of Mortgages CUs Don't Get.
July 3, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Nine out of 10 CU members look elsewhere for mortgages. That leaves quite a bit of opportunity for credit unions, according to Tracy Jean Ashfield, president of Madison, Wis.-based consultancy Strategic Mortgage Solutions, and...

Where Benefits Lie In HSAs For Members-And Their CUs.(Health Savings Accounts)
July 3, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- As company-provided health care plans continue to raise premiums and provide less coverage, it is imperative credit unions offer members alternative ways to manage health-care costs, a panel of experts told attendees at CUNA...

Why Debt Cancellation Is Growing.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Debt cancellation is here to stay as a way for credit unions to provide members the protection they want on consumer, home equity and credit card loans, a CUNA Mutual Group lending sales specialist told attendees at CUNA Mutual's...

How Your CU Can Ensure Your Disaster Plan Doesn't Prove To Be A Disaster.(credit unions)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Two experts on disaster recovery, including a CU that was hit by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, had advice and suggestions for CUs at CUNA Mutual's Discovery Conference. Mike Retelle, CUNA Mutual Disaster Team Leader, and Gerard...

House Backs Flood Insurance Overhaul.(reports of floods)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The House overwhelmingly passed a bill last week to reform the National Flood Insurance Program by phasing out billions of dollars of subsidies and beefing up enforcement of mandatory coverage in flood areas. The bill would...

Consumer Groups Take Aim At Bid On Reg Relief.(partnerships)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A coalition of consumer groups called on leaders of the Senate Banking Committee to reject a number of amendments to the pending regulatory relief bill, including a provision that would allow privately insured CUs to join the...

House Votes To Greatly Reduce CTR Paper Trail.(currency transaction reports)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The House also voted last week for a bill that would vastly reduce the paperwork requirement for filing currency transaction reports made by credit unions and banks. The bill would exempt CTR requirements for an institution's...

Senate Banking Eyes New Data Security Bill.(management of data security)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Two members of the Senate Banking Committee introduced yet another bill last week aimed at stemming the growing number of data breaches. The bill would do three main things: require users of confidential data to develop...

People.(new appointments)
July 3, 2006... Financial Partners Credit Union, Downey, Calif., named Lance Hauptmeier director of programming and Kit Ho director of accounting. Century Federal Credit Union, Cleveland, Ohio, named Gary Easterling president. DM Federal Credit Union,...

AAA Hooks Up With Mich. CUs.(joint marketing agreement)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... DEARBORN, Mich. -- AAA Michigan announced an expanded relationship with the state's credit unions through the Michigan CU League's CUcorp subsidiary. The joint marketing agreement, called "Members Together," will provide members of both...

NuUnion Joins Biz Loan Program.(Capital Access Program)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... LANSING, Mich. -- NuUnion CU has joined the Michigan Economic Development Corp.'s Capital Access Program, which provides loans to more risky businesses. The program was created in 1986 and reinstated in 2002 to provide credit unions and...

CU Loot Finances Shopping Spree.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... INDIANAPOLIS -- A local man accused of robbing Forum CU of as much as $250,000 used the money in the days immediately afterwards to put a down payment on a Cadilac, buy a flat screen TV, bedroom furniture and other luxury items. But police are...

Kinecta Teller Charged In ID Theft.(stolen members personal information)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. -- A teller at Kinecta Federal Credit Union allegedly stole members' personal information and supplied it to accomplices to create counterfeit checks, police said. The ring allegedly victimized 36 credit union...

HTCU Sued Over Cashed Checks.(Heritage Trust Credit Union)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... MT. PLEASANT, S.C. -- Town officials filed suit claiming Heritage Trust CU and several banks allowed a former police department employee to deposit and cash checks made out to the town. The suit, filed in state court, claims the CU, as well...

READER QUESTION #1.(in-store branching)
July 3, 2006... We are considering going to in-store branching, but we saw the news story about a grocery store branch that was robbed in the middle of the day, without anyone other than the teller knowing it. What are some of the different security...

READER QUESTION #2.(component buildings for new credit union branches)
July 3, 2006... We want to add several new branches quickly, but we want them to be of the same quality as our existing facilities. What are the advantages and disadvantages to "component" facilities? Joe Ijjas, VP accelerated development, NewGround, St....

Security Check List.(merchant banking)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Paul Seibert's Rules of In-Store Branch Security: * Never leave just one staff in the branch if cash is present. If this situation will occur, use ATMs for cash delivery. * Use cash dispensers or recyclers at all locations. * Do...

Bayer FCU Builds Branches To Be 'Always Within Reach'.
July 3, 2006... ORLANDO, Fla. -- Bayer FCU, Elkhart, Ind., went years without building a branch, but in the last seven years it has gone on something of a branching binge, building 11 new branches as part of its strategy to live up to the motto "always within...

Product & Service.(LEVEL5 develops metro Atlanta retail delivery strategy for Delta Community CU)(FAIRWINDS CU relocats its corporate headquarters)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... LEVEL5 Develops Hub Branch For Delta ATLANTA-LEVEL5, a consultant offering integrated design and other branching and branding services, has developed a metro Atlanta retail delivery strategy for Delta Community CU that includes a regional...

Facility News.(facilities of credit unions)(List)
July 3, 2006... Credit Unions Branching Out * The Co-op Network and 7-Eleven have partnered to offer North Jersey FCU, Totowa, N.J., surcharge-free access and account withdrawals at all 7-Eleven stores nationwide. * Woodstone Credit Union, Federal...

Peak-Performing Credit Unions During 1st Quarter, 2006.(credit union rankings)
July 3, 2006... WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On this page are featured credit unions that have been identified, according to one set of criteria, as delivering superior value to their members. Determining how a credit union stands relative to its peers is a...

SECU Named Bergengren Winner.(State Employees Credit Union)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- North Carolina's State Employees Credit Union has been named the 2006 recipient of CUNA Mutual Group's Roy F. Bergengren Award for High Achievement. The award was presented to representatives of SECU at CUNA Mutual's Discovery...

Enter Your Best Practice.
July 3, 2006... WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Credit Union Journal is announcing its Call for Entries for its Best Practices awards. It's easy to enter! Nominations may be submitted by credit unions themselves, a CUSO or even another CU. Nominations may also be...

On Deadline: Delaware Explores Branching.(meetings of credit unions)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... WILMINGTON, Del. -- Representatives from eleven of the state's 34 credit unions are meeting here to discuss a proposal that would make Delaware one of the last states to join shared branching. The Delaware CU League is in talks with the...

On Deadline: Corporate, CU*Answers Partner.(credit unions partnerships)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Corporate One FCU announced it is teaming with CU*Answers to form a CUSO that will provide depository services using Corporate One's Check 21 solution for credit unions. The CUSO will provide CU*Answers' 107 credit union...

On Deadline: Teller Charged In ID Theft Ring.(cases)(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. -- A teller at Kinecta FCU allegedly stole members' personal information and supplied it to accomplices to create counterfeit checks, police said. The ring allegedly victimized 36 credit union members, mostly...

The BIG Margine SQUEEZE.(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Compressed. Razor-thin. Squeezed. Those words and others are heard nearly every time credit unions and when talk turns to margins. Since 2002, the return on average assets (ROA), which is one measure of a credit...

Third CU Files To Convert To Bank: New York's Marcy FCU Latest To Seek New Charter.
July 10, 2006... MARCY, N.Y. -- Marcy Federal Credit Union here has applied to the Office of Thrift Supervision for a mutual bank charter, making it the third credit union to do so in as many weeks, following the applications of Lafayette FCU in Kensington,...

47,000 Autoworkers To Get Big Payout: Credit Unions Prepared To Offer Counseling, Financial Planning.
July 10, 2006... DETROIT -- The announcement by General Motors Corp. that 35,000 of its workers, along with another 12,600 at bankrupt Delphi Corp., have accepted buyouts or early retirements in exchange for packages ranging from $35,000 to $140,000 has credit...

CUNA Goes On The Offensive Against Bankers On The Hill.(Credit Union National Association)
July 10, 2006... WASHINGTON -- CUNA's new approach to lobbying Congress is raising questions in some circles of the credit union movement and in Congress-and may have complicated the effort to get a regulatory relief bill passed. Call it "going on the...

On Deadline: Deposits Continue To Flow Out Of CUs.(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... MADISON, Wis. -- Members drained another $5.6 billion from their credit union accounts in May, one of the worst months ever for credit union growth, CUNA reported last week. Since the end of March $8.5 billion of savings have flowed out of...

Congress Wary Over CUSOs 'Piggybacking' Tax Exemption.(Credit Union Service Organizations)
July 10, 2006... MEDIA, Penn. -- The threat of new regulations-and the compliance headaches that come with them-looms large for CUSOs, which have come under greater congressional scrutiny since the House Ways and Means Committee began examining the tax-exempt...

CEO Confidence Slides In Survey.(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... DALLAS -- After expressing optimism during the first quarter of this year, credit union leaders are now feeling less confident about the direction of the economy for both institutions and individuals. Southwest Corporate's quarterly CU CEO...

Worth Noting.(Credit Union Association)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... Chandler New CEO At Conn. CUA WALLINGFORD, Conn.-The Connecticut Credit Union Association has named former Minnesota CU Network President Kevin Chandler as its new president. Chandler, who manned the helm at the Minnesota CU Network for...

The Bottom Line On The Bottom Line? It All Depends.
July 10, 2006... Just what is the bottom line? That all depends on which line you're toeing. Attend any gathering of marketers, and the bottom line is marketing. Hang with a group of HR execs and in short order you'll learn the bottom line is people. The IT...

Disaster Plan Must Include Provisions For Influenza Pandemic.
July 10, 2006... On the morning of August 29, 2005, the lives of millions of Americans living along the central Gulf Coast changed forever. Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster this country has experienced, resulted in the loss of over 1,500 lives and...

Shared Branches Shining Example.(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... I would like to thank Editor in Chief/Co-Publisher Frank Diekmann for letting us in on his insightful conversation with Jim Hughes and Gerald Verdi in his piece entitled "Unconventional Ideas from an Unconventional Source" found in the June 19...

Research Can Help In Determining The Drivers Of Members, Staff, Prospects.
July 10, 2006... Management guru Stephen Covey said: "I don't see the world as it is. I see the world as I am." What he meant was that everyone has largely unconscious mental models that influence behavior. It follows that training and marketing programs will...

New Plaintiff In Suit Against DFCU Former Board Member Joins Effort To Have Board Recalled.
July 10, 2006... DETROIT -- Margaret Blohm, a member of DFCU Financial Credit Union who has been active in the group fighting that credit union's attempt to convert to a bank charter, has asked the courts to allow her to join two members in a lawsuit filed...

Remnants Of A Conversion Attempt: Odd Nature Of Columbia CU Case Has Led To Odder Lawsuits.
July 10, 2006... VANCOUVER, Wash. -- If anyone wants to see the wreckage of a failed credit union conversion they ought to come to this suburb of Portland. That's where they'll find the once proud center of the local business community continuing to rebuild...

CU's Successful Loan Promo Incorporated Into Solution.(Cuadpro Marketing)(Marquis Software)
July 10, 2006... PHILADELPHIA -- Marketing agencies typically are retained to sell software solutions. But one software company, after seeing how successful a loan promotion went for Philadelphia FCU, is now incorporating aspects of the campaign into its own...

Tips For Success: Be Fashionable, Work At The 'Edges'.
July 10, 2006... ORLANDO, Fla. -- If you want to benefit from your ideas you'd better "be remarkable," advised Seth Godin. The author of "The Purple Cow," Godin told a group of credit unions gathered here that credit unions are really in the "fashion...

Product & Service.(VSoft Systems Inc.)(Baker Hill Corp.)(TNB Card Services)
July 10, 2006... VSoft In Deal With S. Carolina CUL ATLANTA-VSoft Corporation, a provider of process improvement tools for financial institutions, has signed Palmetto Cooperative Services (PCS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the South Carolina league, to use...

Entrust, Addison Avenue FCU Settle Suit.( Entrust, Inc. )(Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... DALLAS -- Entrust, Inc. has settled its patent infringement lawsuit against Addison Avenue FCU, Palo Alto, Calif. filed in March. Entrust said that as part of the settlement agreement, Addison Avenue has agreed to license the Entrust...

Marketers In The West Tend To Earn The Most.(Brief article)(Statistical data)
July 10, 2006... PALM DESERT, Calif. -- Credit union marketing professionals in the Western U.S. continue to average higher salaries than their counterparts around the country, according to the results of a study from the Marketing Association of Credit Unions...

The Love And Caring Of CU Employees.(credit union)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... ORLANDO, Fla. -- It's not about dating and breaking up, but it's sure about love-or at least caring-when it comes to employee morale and productivity, according to one expert. Dr. Karen Ostrov offered attendees at CUNA's Future Forum here...

CULS Hits $100M Mark In RV Loans Financed.(Credit Union Loan Source)(CUSO)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... DULUTH, Ga. -- In just over a year after entering the indirect lending business, The Credit Union Loan Source, LLC, a Georgia-based CUSO, reported it has hit the $100-million mark in serviced assets. That amount is the result of financing...

The Big Margin SQUEEZE: It's No Secret - Credit Union Margins Have Been Declining For Years, With An Industry Average ROA Now Well Below 1%. In This Credit Union Journal Special Report, Nearly Two-Dozen CEOs And Analysts Sound Off On What Can Be Done.(return on assets)
July 10, 2006... WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Many within credit unions are drawn to the cooperative financial structure because of the unique intersection of numbers, finance and people's dreams. Credit unions help members finance a home, a car or a college...

Analyst: More Disciplined Approach To Pricing Decisions Is Needed.
July 10, 2006... AKELAND, Fla. -- Many credit unions would see a higher return on assets (ROA) by taking a more disciplined approach toward pricing decisions, according to one expert. "Our position is that while a lot of pricing is imposed on credit unions...

Ohio CU Slashes Fees-And ROA Is A Robust 1.3%.(credit union)(return on assets )(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... KETTERING, Ohio -- In 2005, Day Air Credit Union here went on a fee slashing binge, eliminating nine different fees from the service menu. But the credit union's financial performance hasn't suffered. While so many CUs have looked to...

Study Examines What Future Members Want, Need.
July 10, 2006... MADISON, Wis. -- Two soon-to-be-released 2006 Filene Research Institute studies provide valuable insights into the young consumer's buying and financing choices. They include first-time home buyers-averaging 26 years old-and first-time used-car...

San Antonio CU A Force In Manufactured Home Lending.(credit unions)
July 10, 2006... SAN ANTONIO -- Manufactured housing has come a long way since the days of the mobile home and jokes about "trailer trash." In the fall of 2002, San Antonio Federal Credit Union (known as SACU) developed a CUSO, CU Factory Built Lending, which...

Lending Boost 101: USC CU Puts On Its Books Loans For Hitting The Books.(Credit Union )
July 10, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- A college education was historically limited to the wealthy. But after World War II and the G.I. bill, Americans of all income levels started to attend college. The escalating costs of education are threatening to limit college...

Software, Now Available To Other CUs, Speeds Approval Process.(Credit Union)(FORUM Credit Union)
July 10, 2006... INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- What is keeping credit unions from capturing more of the auto loan market? Credit unions have 18.4% of all auto loans in the United States and vehicle loans are 37.5% of the total $444.5-billion credit union lending...

Study Examines What Future Members Want, Need.
July 10, 2006... ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Treasury yield curve is flat and that means tighter margins for credit unions. It's a scenario consultant Jared Cahill called this "perfect storm that is brewing-low margins, increased employee costs and increased...

Foe-Turned-CU Friend Vies To Head Committee.(Credit Union)(Spencer Bachus)
July 10, 2006... WASHINGTON -- With just three months remaining on the legislative calendar, Alabama Congressman Spencer Bachus, a one-time credit union opponent turned supporter, has emerged as one of two favorites to chair the House Financial Services...

Thrifts Flex Congressional Muscle On FHLB Proposal.(Federal Home Loan Banks)
July 10, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The once-powerful S&L lobby, which retreated into the background for more than a decade after the financial debacle of the 1990s, is flexing some of its lobbying might these days and has convinced Congress to weigh in on the...

People.(appointment of credit union)
July 10, 2006... SAC Federal Credit Union, Omaha, Neb., promoted Gail DeBoer to executive vice president. United Teletech Financial FCU, Tinton Falls, N.J., named Joan McGlennon manager of service and support, and Deborah Matulonis to branch service and...

Transportation CU CEO's Road To Success: Anderson Credited For Stabilizing, Growing LA DOTD FCU.(Credit Union )(Cary Anderson)(LA DOTD FCU)
July 10, 2006... DENHAM SPRINGS, La. -- When it came to hiring a CEO, it wasn't the third, fourth or even the fifth try that proved to be LA DOTD FCU's lucky charm. After five CEOs within a five-year period, the $85-million credit union hired Cary Anderson...

Secret Staff Action Honors Not-So-Secret Successes.(Carlo Cestra)(Digital Federal Credit Union)
July 10, 2006... MARLBOROUGH, Mass. -- When Carlo Cestra's staff asked if he had a passport, Digital Federal Credit Union's CEO said he was surprised that he would even need one. "They told me I had to go to Canada for a special award," he said. "I was so...

One Volunteer Shoots For The Stars: Zahler's Two Decades Of Contributions Are Recognized.(Peggy Zahler)(JSC Federal Credit Union )
July 10, 2006... HOUSTON -- When JSC FCU wants something done right, they ask Peggy Zahler. Sure, she's busy as a CPA, a licensed private and commercial pilot and a volunteer for numerous community and professional organizations. Still, she has found...

Interested In 'Financial Stuff,' Except The Paycheck.(Robert Wilkinson )
July 10, 2006... ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- During a recent gathering of community members, many were surprised to learn that Robert Wilkinson was "just" a volunteer. "They could not believe that someone so devoted to the credit union would do so without earning...

Banks Offering Tea Service, Doormen, Cars To Run Errands.(Oak Brook Bank)(Citigroup Inc. )(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... CHICAGO -- Several major retail banks are expanding luxury services and perks to attract clients with millions of dollars in cash, trusts and sometimes even art collections. Among the premiums being offered are daily tea service, doormen and...

JPMorgan 'Books' Biz With Borders.(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Borders Groups, Inc. booksellers here are teaming with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to offer an enhanced version of their co-branded Visa credit card. For each dollar a cardholder spends at Waldenbooks or Borders, they will...

CitiBusiness Has Prescription For What Ails Small Business.(CitiBusiness Credit Cards )(prescription discounts to employees )(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... NEW YORK -- CitiBusiness Credit Cards will offer prescription discounts to employees of small businesses carrying its cards. For an additional $10, a business can add employees who don't carry the CitiBusiness card. For $8.95 per month,...

Seven-Day-A-Week Bank Offering Lots Of '7' Rewards.(BankAtlantic F.S.B.)(Brief article)
July 10, 2006... FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- BankAtlantic continues to market a "Switch A Thon is On" campaign that gives new account owners a $77 MasterCard gift card after switching from another financial institution. The bank also offered up to $25 for unused...